This new free report co-authored with Dr Elizabeth Bennett is a key output of the UEA’s AHRC-funded project Public Culture and Creative Spaces, part of the Connected Communities programme. It links with a conference we organised on street music, and was launched at that conference on May 13 2019.

From the introduction: ‘The purpose of this report is to chart and critically examine available writing about the historical and contemporary presence of street music in the cultural landscape and our shared public spaces, drawing on both academic and ‘grey’/cultural policy literature in the field. The review presents research findings under the headings of: history – cultural policy and legislation – street music advocacy and campaigning – place-making, space and community – protest and social movements – creativity: performers, performance, and audience – festivals, carnival, live and outdoor arts. The report concludes with a set of future recommendations for research. To accompany From Brass Bands to Buskers, a substantial annotated bibliography has been produced, which is also freely accessible online.’

You can download a FREE copy of From Brass Bands to Buskers by clicking here. A number of paper copies are also available, free; if you would like one get in touch.

The conference I am organising with my current postdoc Dr Lizzie Bennett is really taking shape. We have a great programme of around 40 speakers, from academic as well as industry, outdoor arts, festivals, busking and performing backgrounds. And we have a musician-in-residence, Pete Moser. You can read more about Pete’s one-man-band work here. The two-day conference is free to attend, but you need to book a ticket (there are very few left). It is funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council’s Connected Communities programme, from the UEA. Other speakers include the following.